The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-01-07

by l.. y. Foose, Harrisburg, Elipht
Dram Lyte, Millersville and j. P An
drews, Pittsburg, who were appointed
at the last meeting of the Pennsylvania
State Teachers Association, to secure
petition to the next Legislature, from
all parts of the state, asking for law
the length of the minimum
school term six months. The petition
met the approval of the Institute, aud
petitions were placed in the hands of
three teachers in each district for cir.
culation. Prof Waller stated that the
reason the length of the minimum
school term is not already six months
is owing TO the fact that our represen-
tatives, not knowing the wishes OF the
people in the matter, feared to impose
greater taxation on them. He urged
upon those having the matter in charge
the duty of circulating these papers as
largely as possible, so that our Repre-
sentatives may know the feeling of the
people. Mr.. Miller suggested that a
petition be sent TO the Legislature ask.
ing that law be passed allowing
teachers the time of Institute. Prof.
Waller proposed that the Legislature
be peitioned to pass a law granting
the Directors payment for time
spent in Institute.
Mr. J. @. Brown suggested also that
a petition be sent to the Legislature
asking them to pass law making at
tendance of children in public schools
compulsory. These are all subjects
for thought.
Intermlssion.
Singing by the Institute.
The following telegram was received.
Wilkesbarre, Pa. Dec. % 1886.
To J. S. Grimes, Bloomsburg Pa
The teachers of Luzerue county
send greetings to Columbia teachers.
j. w. Hayman, Sec.
BY order of the Institute, the mes
sage below was returned.
Bloomsbury, Pa. Dec. 29 1886.
To Mr.. Coughlin, Wilkesbarre Pa.
The teachers of Columbia county
return thanks and best wishes to the
teachers of Lizerne. Edith Barton, Sec.
Miss r R,ss presented the subject of
fractions, showing how simple and
beautiful this subject can be made,
when each step is illustrated. She
used for this purpose, cubes, half cube s
and quarter cubes.
Mr.. Grimes appointed as committee
on resolutions, Francis Becker, Jer.
Reeder, Alice Edgar, Hannah Breeze
and Miss Kistler. He also appointed
as auditing committee, Mr.. N. Keifer,
Miss Ella Allen and Mr.. George Faus.
Prof. Noetling who had just returned
from visit to the Perry county Insti-
tute, held in New Bloomfield, Perry
county, Pa, brought greeting from
this body to the teachers of Columbia
county. BY order of the Institute a
message was returned to them by tele-
gram.
Institute adjourned at ~, a. m.
THURSDAY AFTERNOON.
The Institute was called to order at
2 p. m, and opened with singing.
Miss Ross occupied the first period,
speaking on devices that can be used
in the ungraded schools. Something
that will keep the little ones employed
and quiet, while the older pupils are re-
citing Have table put up in one
corner of the room, and on this lump
of potter's clay well kneaded, and ready
Tor IL uodeling. When you wish to hear
a class in algebra, for example, let your
little ones come up to this table, show
them how to form some simple objects
such as beads or marbles, and allow
them to form as many of these as they
can, (dolng the work nicely while you
hear your class. They must under
stand, however, that if noisy, they for
felt this pleasure. The next day these
beads or marbles might be painted, and
the next day they might string the
beads. If di fferent colored paints were
used, as blue and red, the beads could
be placed on the strings in alternate
colors, two of one kind, and then two
of the other and thus, the children
would be learning not only form and
color, but number. For variety have
box of colored papers which can bt
obtained at the printing Office, usually
free, as it is their waste paper. Have
the little ones sort these papers intt
equal lengths, get a little paste ant
teach the children to make chains. Tn,
colors may be combined system atically
so that number will be taught as be
fore. A large flat box of moist sane
would also furnish variety, and bt
used with ads antage and profit She
spoke of whispering in the school, said
she would not prohibit it entirely, ye
would not permit it to disturb her.
Anthem by the Bloomsburg Chora
Society,
DR.. Robb talked of some mistakes il
discipline. He endorsed Miss Ross
remark on whispering, adding that h
would not have an infeYible rule ol
anything. He disapproved of tn
system of self reporting to break u
whispering because its tendency is I
make children untruthful. He close,
with the remark, meyer make ar infleS
ible rule, and never make any unit
necessary
Music, quartet by Eddie Ent, Fran
Colley, George Hart and Oscar En-
from the high school.
| lntermission
Mr.. McHeury, a member of tn
School Board of Berwick, was intr,
duced. He spoke on some of th
duties of Directors. They should sele,
school grounds having in view tn
health, convenience and enjoyment @
the children, School houses should
az carefully planned and built as Il
most costly home, and teachers shou
be selected whose morals are good
getting text books, teachers should
consulted. They should at least ha,
the privilege of expressing an opinic
in regard to the tools they are expec
ed 10 use. Directors should visit Il
schools frequently, and keep posted {
educational topics by takin" educatio
al papers. He urged upon pireoto
the paying Of better salaries to teac
ers.
Music, a Quartet by members of Il
Bloomsburg Choral Society.
Prof. Noetling called the attentiC
of teachers IN the MANY Uood hoo